Rumor - Blue Sky

Replacement In The Works for Dinorama?

Time Frame

Rumor Status

Specific Details

Details are limited at the moment, but it appears that Disney is considering an addition or replacement to Chester and Hester's Dinorama and possibly all of Dinoland USA.

Several different rumors for this area include:

A roller coaster replacing Chester and Hester's Dinorama

Indiana Jones taking over the theme of the entire Dinoland USA and Chester and Hester's Dinorama. This could include a retheme of DINOSAUR to Indiana Jones Adventure (Disneyland, Tokyo Disney Sea), an archeology themed replacement to The Boneyard, a third attraction replacing Chester and Hester's Dinorama that could be a roller coaster, and a non-Indiana Jones themed boat ride replacing Finding Nemo - The Musical.

At this point, neither rumor should be considered anything more than Blue Sky.

Rumor Timeline

February 23, 2018: WDWMagic.com user marni1971 is reporting that any plans for Disney's Animal Kingdom have been downsized. The current expectation is a refresh of Dinoland USA with the addition of a coaster.

February 20, 2018: WDWMagic.com user marni1971 is reporting that there are two Disney World parks competing for a single movie based intellectual property with the speculation being that the property is Indiana Jones and the parks are Disney's Animal Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios. He also indicated that there are three Disney World parks competing for a single ride system. The speculation is that this ride system is the system used for Shanghai Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean Battle of the Shrunken Treasure attraction. He acknowledged that the parks competing for the yet to be identified ride system are Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom.

November 19, 2017: WDWMagic.com user TheVisionarySoul is reporting that the Indiana Jones project for Disney's Animal Kingdom is still on the table.

February 8, 2018: WDWMagic.com user Disneyhead'71 is reporting that one pitch would have an Indiana Jones retheme of Dinosaur, Restaurantosaurus would be rethemed to an Adventure themed restaurant, an Indy bar would be added, Chester & Hester's Dinorama would be replaced by a wooden roller coaster, and a non-Indiana Jones themed boat ride would replace Finding Nemo - The Musical. In a subsequent post, the ride system for the boat ride was reported to be the same ride system used for Pirates of the Caribbean in Shanghai.

August 23, 2017: WDWMagic.com user marni1971 clarified that while this is likely to be a, "substantial project" it is unlikely to be the existing Excavator concept. Additionally he reiterated that this is definitely not green lit.

August 22, 2017: On Episode 134b of the Unofficial Guide's Disney Dish Podcast, Jim Hill discussed the Indiana Jones rumor and dismissed it as fan speculation.

August 21, 2017: WDWMagic.com user WDW1974 is reporting that there is a plan to replace Chester and Hester's Dinorama without replacing the other components of Dinoland USA. The rumored replacement would be a previously unused coaster concept. While WDW1974 did not state that this would be the Excavator concept that was an Imagineering proposal from the early days of Disney's Animal Kingdom. While he did not rule out an Indiana Jones re-theme to the area, he acknowledged that he had not heard any details related to that.

August 16, 2017: WDWMagic.com WildcatDen is reporting that the rumored attractions would be as follows:

DINOSAUR would be rethemed into a version of Indiana Jones Adventure, but not identical to Disneyland

Primeval Whirl and Triceratop Spin would be removed for an E-ticket, possibly a water ride.

The Boneyard would have light retheming.

In a follow up post, WildcatDen reported that a coaster is also being considered instead of or in addition to the water ride.

August 14, 2017: WDWMagic.com user TheVisionarySoul is reporting that he has heard a rumor about Indiana Jones taking over Dinoland USA. While he did clarify that this was just a rumor at this point, the details he outlined included the following:

DINOSAUR to be rethemed to the Indiana Jones Adventure from Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea

An archeology themed dig site to replace The Boneyard

The demolition and ultimate replacement of Chester and Hester's Dinorama.

User Magic Feather indicated that Indiana Jones is one option on the table for this area and is in the top two at the moment. User WDW1974 indicated that he is not aware of a project involving Indiana Jones, but is aware that Disney is looking to replace Chester and Hester's Dinorama with a major attraction.

July 29, 2017: WDWMagic.com user Magic Feather is reporting that he expects news of the closure of Primeval Whirl, "in a year or two".

May 29, 2017: WDWMagic.com user Magic Feather stated that a number of projects are being considered for Disney's Animal Kingdom by 2028. Options include gutting and replacing Dinorama, a re-theme for Dinoland USA and a replacement for the Theater in the Stars.

May 13, 2017: WDWMagic.com user WDW1974 hinted that Animal Kingdom could see another roller coaster as it's next addition.

May 11, 2017: WDWMagic.com user marni1971 indicated that new attractions could be coming to Disney's Animal Kingdom as both new construction and/or as a replacement for Dinorama.

November 10, 2011: JimHillMedia.com wrote an article describing the never built Excavator attraction at Disney's Animal Kingdom.